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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 19: Ghost Month Taboos (Nine)
"Nothing, I just had a nightmare," I said, feeling my phone heat up in my grip. I opened the screen, and there was no sign of a funeral hall. This was truly bizarre. I let out a breath and nudged Qin Jian beside me. "Sit down."
"Ma Qi, I'm still not sure about going to Ten-Mile Temple. It might be better for me to stay here and guard the Monkey Spirit."
"You can't do that. Just go find him!"
"Find who?"
"Your father."
"Stop joking, I don't have a father." Qin Jian's face flushed bright red with anger.
"Blood is thicker than water. Although I don't know what happened between you two, you really are father and son. You resemble him too much—not just in looks but in mannerisms and behavior as well."
Qin Jian still didn't believe it, shaking his head vigorously. "Impossible! My father died in an accident many years ago. We even have his portrait and death certificate at home."
"Can you describe what he looked like?"
"I can't, because there's no photo on the portrait, and the death certificate is blank except for my mother's signature."
I felt like I had dreamt of a portrait without a frame before. Could it be a sign regarding Qin Ye and Qin Jian? I pondered silently, then said, "You must have heard what Elder Luo Deming said; he had a deep friendship with my grandfather. I learned about your father through Luo Deming. He told me to find someone named Qin Ye using half of a Five Emperor Coin, and he gave me that half coin. But I lost it somewhere. When I saw the half coin on you, I figured your connection to Qin Ye couldn't be simple."
"But that doesn't mean he is my father! I don't even know what he looks like."
"Alright, let's not discuss this anymore. You can rest here or head back; we’ll continue to Ten-Mile Temple tomorrow."
Qin Jian chuckled softly and said, "You sound like an old person, rambling on endlessly. I'll just leave now." As he stood up to leave, my phone rang unexpectedly. In the stillness of the atmosphere, the ringtone was not one I had set; it was Funeral Music.
A loud sound of funeral music echoed, startling him slightly and making my hair stand on end. I picked up my phone to see a call from an unknown city with the number 4444.
I swallowed hard, staring blankly at the screen.
Qin Jian took a few steps closer and said, "Your ringtone is too loud; patients in the intensive care unit need absolute silence."
"No, this isn't a ringtone I set. Look, it's from an unknown city—does such a number even exist?" I handed my phone to Qin Jian, who examined it seriously. Just then, the funeral music abruptly stopped.
I pulled my hand back and asked, "Did you see it?"
Qin Jian looked confused and asked, "See what?"
"The number with four fours."
Qin Jian shook his head. "I didn't see it clearly."
"Damn! Where did it go?" I scrolled through all my recent calls—there were numbers from Chi Xinrong, Han Mi, the fat guy, Qin Jian, and even Lao Luo's number, but not the one that just called.
"Ma Qi, you're losing it. Why don't you go rest? You don't need to be here in the intensive care unit."
Honestly, I didn't know why I was waiting here. Was it out of stubbornness, hoping to see Li Gui? Or was it because I wanted to extract something from Hou Dewen? In any case, I felt foolish for being here so aimlessly, especially after having such a strange dream.
"I can't leave!" Qin Jian shouted again. I hesitated but felt a tug at my heart. After one last glance at the intensive care unit, I walked toward the door with him. It was now 9:50 PM; we would probably get back to the funeral home around 10:30. The fat guy should still be awake.
But after a few steps, I felt uneasy and turned back to look at the quiet surroundings. The blood-red letters of the intensive care unit loomed large. As the door swung open with a gust of wind, clarity struck me—damn it! I had stayed behind to protect Hou Dewen from any mishaps. How had I been so dazed just now? Had something I saw in that dream clouded my judgment? Unable to make sense of it all, I decided to take action and resolutely turned back.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm turning back; help me out."
Qin Jian frowned and turned around, walking with me back to the entrance of the intensive care unit where Hou Dewen was located. I took out a bag I had with me and pulled out a bunch of red threads, asking him to help me unravel them. The threads were connected by knots, forming a complex pattern.
In the center was an exquisite Bagua Bronze Mirror. I needed to ensure that everything here was normal before I could leave with peace of mind. Qin Jian and I moved carefully, step by step, as if we were fish heads, cautious and alert.
Suddenly, the Bagua Mirror flashed, and the silk threads trembled violently. "There's something there," I said.
"What is it?"
"Something bad. I'll explain later when I have time."
The object reflected in the Bagua Bronze Mirror seemed to struggle, trying to break free from the silk control. It emitted strange sounds, like cries of anguish. Seizing the opportunity, I pulled out a talisman, recited an incantation, and aimed it at the spot where the silk threads were shaking the most.
"Ah..." A piercing shriek echoed as the Bagua Bronze Mirror cracked with several fine lines, rendering its power ineffective.
The silk threads snapped one by one, and Qin Jian's eyes widened in shock as he slightly parted his lips.
I cursed under my breath, "Damn it, how could this let her slip away?"
"What was that just now?"
"You wouldn't understand. But for now, Hou Dewen is safe."
Qin Jian pouted. "Ma Qi, you actually have the ability to save Hou Dewen, don't you? Why go through all this trouble?"
"You overestimate me. I managed to save Monkey Spirit once; I can't do it again." I tidied up my things and glanced back at the light above the intensive care unit door, feeling frustrated. I wondered if the unconscious Monkey Spirit was having nightmares.
However, there was one thing I could reassure myself about: Monkey Spirit would be fine for now. His spirit had not appeared among the Soul Reapers, which was good news. But it also worried me that Li Gui was lurking in the shadows, eyeing his situation.
The thing that had just appeared at the entrance of the intensive care unit must have been orchestrated by Li Gui. Was he using Evil Arts for remote control? Ha! Perhaps I was overthinking it; how could that be possible? Only through connection could one achieve remote control; metaphysical techniques couldn't compare to such vast capabilities.
As I walked out of the hospital, I was still checking my phone. The Supernatural Circle I had registered for, along with the nonexistent funeral arrangements, felt like a fleeting illusion that vanished before my eyes. Gone, nowhere to be found.
With no other choice, I put away my phone and casually glanced outside the car window.
Under the pale streetlights, shadows loomed everywhere. The street lacked the vibrancy typical of Baymax, with only a few scattered pedestrians and a trickle of vehicles. Occasionally, a car would speed by.
Now I understood why Chiang enjoyed racing at night; it was quiet, with less traffic. As long as there were no electronic eyes monitoring him, he could push the accelerator to the floor and let loose. The thrill of racing was an experience beyond what most could imagine.
For once, I didn’t fall asleep in the car; instead, I stared out the window, occasionally catching glimpses of black Ashes from remnants of fires that hadn’t fully burned out. It was Ghost Month Taboos, and people were huddled at home watching television.
Qin Jian reminded me, “Ma Qi has arrived.”
The sign for Ma Wu Funeral Home hung as usual, swaying slightly in the wind and occasionally tapping against the doorframe with a soft sound. Light seeped through the windows, casting a half-arc of illumination. Qin Jian didn’t get out of the car because I had asked him to head back early; it was better to be cautious during Ghost Month.
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